Cushioning device for railroad car couplers



Feb. 23, 1965 J. GIBSON CUSHIONING DEVICE FOR RAILROAD CAR COUPLERSFiled Jan. 13, 1964 JAMES L GIBSON INVENTOR.

Q ki 1? A TTO RNE Y 3,170,575 CUSHIGNING DEVICE FOR RAILROAD CARCOUPLERS- James L. Gibson, P.0. Box 761, Fort Worth, Tex. Filed Jan. 13,1964, Ser. No. 337,326

, 5 Claims. (Cl. 213-43) This invention relates to cushioning devicesfor railroad car couplers and it concerns more particularly acombination hydraulic and pneumatic shock absorbing system forcushioning railroad cars against shock as. applied to the couplers,either upon starting the train, when the couplers are pulled in oppositedirections, or upon sudden stopping or impact when the cars are bumpedtogether. i

The invention is an improvement over related apparatus described andclaimed in my prior Patents Nos. 2,909,291 and 3,009,584. p

- The invention contemplates a shock absorbing system as described whichis common to the couplers on opposite ends of a railroad -car wherebybuff or impact forces applied to one of the couplers is transmitted to;the other coupler while at the same time both couplers are'elfectivelycushioned.

The invention further contemplates a shock absorbing system as describedwhich is characterized by its flexibility and in whicha pair ofhydraulic cylinders, each having a piston therein, are supported on theframe of the car immediately adjacent the couplers on opposite endsthereof, respectively, each of said pistons being opera- I tivelyconnected to one -of the couplers, and in which two otherhydraulic-pneumatic cylinders, which comprise the remainder of theapparatus as hereinafter described, may be positioned at any convenientlocation under the car.

A distinguishing feature of this invention, whereby it is believed to bereadily dstinguishable from the inventions described in my two earlierpatents, is the arrangement of the two hydraulic-pneumatic cylindersabove mentioned, each of which has a free floating piston therein andhas a'liquid space and an air space in opposite ends thereof, onopposite sides of the piston, the air space of one of saidhydraulic-pneumatic cylinders being filled with compressed air and theair space of the other of said hydraulic-pneumatic cylinders beingfilled with air of the respective first mentioned hydraulic cylindersto' the liquid space of said one of the hydrauliopne'umatic cylinders,while at the same time liquid is caused to flow V from the liquid spaceof said other of the hydraulicpneumatic cylinders to the liquid space inthe opposite end of the respective first mentioned hydraulic cylinders.Similarly, upon longitudinal movement of the couplers in the oppositedirection the direction of flow is reversed.

3,179,575 Patented Feb. 23, 1965 An advantageous feature of theinvention is that the compressed air in said one of thehydraulic-pneumatic cylinders assists in returning the couplers to theiroriginal positions after havng been bumped.

The presence of liquid in opposite ends of the first mentioned hydrauliccylinders, rather than in one end thereof only, as shown in my twoearlier patents, provides a liquid seal whereby liquid is positivelyprevented from flowing by the pistons thereof and escaping on the impactstrokes of the couplers.

The liquid space of said other of the hydraulic-pneumatic cylindersprovides a reservoir of hydraulic liquid which is available as needed.

The liquid space of said other of the hydraulic-pneumatic cylinderscommunicates through a check valve and connecting line with the liquidspace of said one of the hydraulic-pneumatic cylinders whereby themaintenance of a supply of liquid in the liquid spaceof said one of thehydraulic-pneumatic cylinders is .positively assured.

The lines whereby the liquid space of said other of thehydraulic-pneumatic cylinders is connected to the first mentionedhydraulic cylinders have flapper type check valves communicatingtherewith whereby liquid may flow freely in the direction'of the firstmentioned hydraulic cylinders, and the fiappers of the check valves havesmall orifices therein whereby the flow of liquidin the oppositedirection is restricted.

The invention will be readily understood by referring to the followingdescription and the. accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal view, partly in section taken on a medianline, of apparatus embodying the invention. I

FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the manner in which theinvention isapplied to a pair of couplers on opposite ends of a railroadcar.

Referring to FIGURE 2 of the drawing, the numerals I 1, 2 designategenerally a pair of couplers which are positioned on opposite ends of arailroad car (not shown). A pair of hydraulic cylinders, indicatedgenerally by the numerals 3, 4, one ofwhich is shown in FIGURE 1,

The pistons in the first mentioned hydraulic cylinders Y aresupported'in a sill 5 immediately adjacent the couplers'l, Z on oppositeends of the car.

The hydraulic cylinders 3, 4 .each have a piston 6 therein, and'theshanks of the couplers 1, 2 are each pivotally connected, as at 7, toone end of a piston rod 3 whereby the pistons 6 are movable reciprocallyin the hydraulic cylinders 3, 4 in response to reciprocal movement ofthe respective couplers 1, 2. 1 r

Two other cylinders 9, lil, hereinafter referred to ashydraulic-pneumaticv cylinders, which may be positioned at anyconvenientlocation under the car, have .free floating pistons 11, 12 therein andhave liquid spaces13, 14 and air spaces '15, 16 in opposite endsthereof, on opposite sides of the pistons 11, 12 respectively.

The air space 15 of one of the hydraulic-pneumatic cylinders 9 is filledwith compressed air, and the air space 16 of, the other of thehydraulic-pneumatic cylinders 10 is filled with atmospheric air. 7 Aline 17, which communicates with a source ofcompressed air and has a cutoff valve 18 therein, is connected to said one of the hydraulicpneumaticcylinders 9, in fiuid communication with the air space 15 thereof. Saidother of the hydraulic-pneumatic cylinders 10 has a short fiuid conduit19 communicating with the air space 16 thereof which is open to theatmosphere and is provided with a strainer 20.

The liquid spaces 13, 14 of the hydraulic-pneumatic cylinders9, 10 arein fluid communication, through'connecting lines 21, 22 and 23, 24,respectively, with liquid spaces 25, 26 in opposite ends of thehydraulic cylinders 3, 4, on opposite sides of the pistons 6 thereof.

Upon longitudinal movement of thecouplers 1, 2'in one direction,inlwhich they are advanced relative to each .7 7

other, as in buff, liquid is caused to flow from theliquid v space 25 inone end of the respective hydraulic cylinders 3, to the liquid space 13of the hydraulic-pneumatic cylinder 9, While at the same-time liquid iscaused to how from, v

the liquid space 14 of the hydraulic-pneumatic cylinder 1% to the liquidspace 26' in the opposite end of the respective hydraulic cylinders 3,4. Similarly, in draft 'the; direction 7 of flow is reversed. t

The pistons 6 have axial tapered valve elements 27021 the sides thereefopposite the piston rods 8-for coaction With restricted openings 23inthe adjacent ends of the hydraulic cylinders 3, 4 communicating .withthe lines 21,-, 23, respectively, whereby the restricted OpeningsZSadapted to'be gradually closed in response tolcngitudinal movement ofthe couplers 1, 2 to limit such longitudinal movement thereof in oned-irection, in which the couplers 1, 2, are advanced relative to eachother.

The pistons 6 in the hydraulic cylinders 3, 4- arc double acting, asabove described, and the arrangement is such that liquid is dischargedtherefrom upon movement of'thc pistdns 6 in one direction, as ontheimpact orbuff strokes of the cou lers L la ainstctheresistance,ofcomeressed' air in the air space '15 of thehydraulic-pneumatic cylinder 9,.While-liquid is dischargedtherefrom uponmovement of the pistons Gin the opposite directio n,'as on the draftstrokes of the couplers 1, 2, against the resistance of atmospheric air"pressure only in the airspaceflldiof the hydraulidpneumatic cylinderIll.

The compressed air in the airspace l ofthehydraulic? an air space inoppositeendsv thereof on" opposite sides of the piston, the'air spaceotto'n'e of said hydraulic-pneumatic cylinders being-filled Withcompressed air-and the air space of the other of saidhydraulic-pneumatic? cylinders being filled with atmospheric air, 1 theliquid spaces of the hydraulic-pneumatic cylinders being in fluidcommunication,

respectively, through connecting lines, with. liquid spaces in oppositeends ofthe first mentioned hydraulic'cylinders on opposite sides of thepistons thereof;

2. The structure of claim '1, the arrangement being such that'uponlongitudinal movement ofthe couplers :none 7 direction, in which theyare advanced "relative to each other, liquid is caused to flow from theliquid space in one end. of the respective firstmentionedhydrauliccylinders to the liquid space of said one of thehydraulic-pneumaticcylinders, while at the same; time liquid is c'ausedto flow from theliquid space of said other of the hydrauli'cpneumatic cylinders totheliqui d'spacecin the opposite end of pneumatic cylinder 9, returnsthecouplers 1,2 to their" I original positionsvafter having been bumped.

The pressure in'the liquid spaces 25, -26, ofthe hydraulic cylinders 3,4is equalizedthrough the liq'uidspaces l3, 14" of the hydraulic-pneumaticcylinders 9, 1t and the'connecting lines 21, 22 and 23, 24Wherebythecouplers l; 2. are movable longitudinally substantially inunison. 1 The presence of liquid in the liquid spaces' 25,'26 of thehydraulic cylinders 3, 4 eliminates the possibility of air lay-passingthe piston 6 'as might be-possihle in the referred topat'ents afterlon'g use which would causesorne wear of the piston. The liquid space 14of'the hydraulic pneu- I matictcylinderltl provides a reservoir ofhydraulic liquid 1 which is available asineededa a I he liquid space 14ofthehydraulicpneumatic cylinder 7,

1t)communicatesthrough'atheckvalve 29am connect ing lin -3d with theliquid space 13 ,o-fthe hydraulic-pneui v matic cylinder 9 whereby themaintenance of an adequate supply of liquid in liquid space 13 of thehydraulic-pneumatic cylinder Qispositively assured by actionjot thedraft forces, i

' ance' of compressed airrinrthe air space of said oneof' the respectivefirst nientioned hydraulic cylinders, and uponlongitudinalfmoveinent-ofthecoupl'ers'in' the oppo-' site'direction the direction of'fioYW isreversed;-

3. The structure of claim 2 'the-pistons' in thefirst:

'mentioned hydraulic cylinders being doublecacting'and the arrangementbeing such that'liquid is dischargcd therc from upon movement of;thepistons in one direction, as;

'onithe impact'strolre's of the coupleraiagainst qtheresistthehydraulic-pneumatic"cylinders; While l iquid .:is dis-' "chargedtherefrom upon movement of the pist'ons in'theopp'ositedirection, as onthe draft strokes ofthe couplers, against the resistance ofatmosphericfair pressure only in 7 the air space of said other of the.hydraulic-pneumatic cylinders is positively assured;v i I j 5. Thestructure of claim 1, the Iines'Wherehy the liquid. space of said' otherof the hydraulic' -pneumatic cylinders f The lines agrass the liquidspace Mcfthe. f

hydraulic-pneumatic cylinder v1t is connected to the hy= fdr'auli'ccylinders 3, dhavefiapper type check valves 33, I

communicating there'WitlrWhereby liquid may flow freelyj in thedirection of the hydraulic cylinders 3, 4,'and the :flappers of thecheck valves. 3lfhave 'small orifices -a therein whereby the'fiow ofliquid, in the opposite direction" isrestricted; r V I p V The inventionis-not limited to the exemplary constructiori herein shown anddescribed,rbut maybe made in various wayscwithin the'scope of theappendedlclaims, 7 What is claimed is: f a

1. A cushioning device for railroad car couplers 'com prising, 1ncombination with a railroad car having a pair cylinders.

4. The, structure liquid space of said one'of the hydraulic-pneumaticcylinders vvherebyithemaintenance era supplyofliquid inthe liquidspaceof-"said one of;thehydraulic-pneumaticis connected to; the :iirstmentioned hydraulic cylinders checkfvalves having small orifices-thereinivhereby.the flow of liquid inthe opposite direction is'rc'stricted V If-ReferencesCited by the Eiiarniner 1 V UNITED STATE SPATENTS I I396,108 1789* 7 2,047,955 7/36 Fitch 1 -;1'05 392.5. 2,909,291 10/59Gibson 2 ,3 43- 2,911,112; 11 59 McCurdy 213 s r 3,009,584 Gibson -c213-43 QUACKENBJUSH,-PrimQry Examiner.

of claim lft-he 'liquidspace otsaidjj' Y other of thehydraulic-pneumatic;cylinders communicating through a check: valveandconnecting line' with the 7 having flapper type checkvalves'cornmunicating therewith 7 whereby liquid may flow freely inthedire'ction ofithefirst mentioned hydrauliccylinders,r and "thefiappers-bf said

1. A CUSHIONING DEVICE FOR RAILROAD CAR COUPLERS COMPRISING, INCOMBINATION WITH A RAILROAD CAR HAVING A PAIR OF COUPLERS ON OPPOSITEENDS THEREOF, THE COMBINATION OF A PAIR OF HYDRAULIC CYLINDERS, EACHHAVING A PISTON THEREIN, SUPPORTED ON THE CAR ADJACENT THE COUPLERS,EACH OF SAID PISTONS BEING OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO ONE OF THE COUPLERS,AND TWO OTHER HYDRAULIC-PNEUMATIC CYLINDERS EACH HAVING A FREE FLOATINGPISTON THEREIN AND HAVING A LIQUID SPACE AND AN AIR SPACE IN OPPOSITEEND THEREOF ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE PISTON, THE AIR SPACE OF ONE OFSAID HYDRAULIC-PNEUMATIC CYLINDERS BEING FILLED WITH COMPRESSED AIR ANDTHE AIR SPACE OF THE OTHER OF SAID HYDRAULIC-PNEUMATIC CYLINDERS BEINGFILLED WITH ATMOSPHERIC AIR, THE LIQUID SPACED OF THEHYDRAULIC-PNEUMATIC CYLINDERS BEING IN FLUID COMMUNICATION,RESPECTIVELY, THROUGH CONNECTING LINES, WITH LIQUID SPACES IN OPPOSITEENDS OF THE FIRST MENTIONED HYDRAULIC CYLINDERS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THEPISTONS THEREOF.